DeadlyBoxes--Rwanda Genocide Memorial--part 1

I never knew how hard my heart could cry—all while staying silent.  The weight of this grieving land hit hard today.  Before we came to Rwanda, it was recommended we watch two movies—Hotel Rwanda and Shake Hands With the Devil.  Both take you on a journey through the horrific genocide that devastated Rwanda in 1994.

The landscape of Rwanda is unlike anything I have ever seen, beautiful hills and valleys with terraced land throughout the country.  As we first drove to the home, the setting was eerily familiar—exactly what I had read about and seen with the movies.  I was traveling along roads where many had lost their lives.  Rwanda was no longer a far-off country with a devastating past, Rwanda had become real to me.

The memorial began with a brief history.  I didn’t know the Hutus and Tutsis were given those titles based on how many cows they had.  They were.  Lines of distinction were drawn between neighbors,  friends and family.  Relationships were strained and eventually destroyed.  People were put into boxes, boxes that ultimately shaped their future, boxes that determined their values and from where no one could escape.

How often are we guilty of doing the same?  In society, in media, in the church and sometimes even in families.  Oh why do we find satisfaction in categorizing people?  What is it that makes it easy to  idolize some and criticize others?  We were all created in the image of Christ.  Age, race, gender and social status do  not determine our value in the eyes of God.

When we came, we were surprised to hear that visiting the memorial was an unusual request.  We were even questioned on why we would want to subject ourselves to this type of horror. Each person has their own reason to visit such a sight or not.  This is not for me to judge, but I I will share why we went.  For Kim and I, I see how our itinerary has been directed by God.  We came, we settled in, and immediately started connecting with the kids and Papa and Mama JoJo. Mama survived the genocide.  Papa came to Rwanda after the genocide, so he joined us.  We fell in love with these people first, then we attempted to understand what has cut this country to the heart.

Processing what we have been and experienced will take time, I will share gradually, as God leads.  I am reminded of this passage in Ecclesiastes:

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;  a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh.  A time to mourn and a time to dance.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

We’ve been sheltered from this kind of violent devastation.  What Kim and I are seeing is this isn’t just “some country”, these are our sisters and brothers.  The plight of the orphans in Kenya—these are our children, too. The women and children caught up in slavery in Cambodia, Mexico and other lands, these are our sisters, our daughters, the homeless and destitute in our own cities and towns, and they are our family.  Let’s not be bound by boxes, but let the love of God in us break down barriers.

For God so loved the world that He gave  His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  

John 3:16-17